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David Curry, president and CEO of Christian advocacy group Open Doors USA told FoxNews.com: “There was a time where they [Christians] were being recognised as productive members of society.

“The government treated them fairly.

“But that has changed. China has the goal of nationalising Christians.”

Little more than five percent of China's 1.4 billion people are believed to be Christians but still the government is accused of being determined to lower the profile of the church.

Mr Curry said: “The effort takes varied forms, from rezoning church properties to allow for demolition, as in the case of the April 14 incident in which Ding was killed, to forcing pastors to meet weekly with local officials to explain their sermons.

“It has had a chilling effect on religious freedom in China.”

Advocates have also highlighted an effort by the government to force thousands of churches to remove crosses.

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Beitou Church in the central Hena province city of Zhumadian is now a dirt pile

After Ding’s death two workers were arrested.

Her husband, who was also pushed into the ditch but managed to crawl out, has allegedly been warned not to discuss the case.

Bob Fu, president and founder of China Aid, said the disturbing incident underscores the serious violations against religious freedom in China that have occurred since President Xi Jinping took office in 2013.

He said “He has taken a strong ideological turn to create a new cultural direction.

“He [Xi] has really turned against the independent churches and any independent social movements. The government wants to contain the growth of Christianity.”

More than 2,000 churches in southern China have been forced to remove crosses from their exteriors in the last year alone, according to Fu, despite them operating freely and with government permission for decades.

China Aid

Advocates have said churches are being increasingly targeted by the Government

Fu estimated that more than 500 activists and lawyers have been detained in the last year, with many still imprisoned.

He said: “There is some resistance, but it is mostly passive.

“There is not much the people can do in terms of going against the government.”

Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China : Heartbreaking latest pictures

Wed, May 17, 2017

An estimated 11,000 cats and dogs are due to be slaughtered for the annual Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China

Puppies are seen in a cage at a dog meat market in Yulin, in China's southern Guangxi region

China Aid

China's Government has ordered demolition teams to take down Christian crosses

Among the arrested was prominent human rights lawyer Zhang Kai, who was detained after he mounted a legal campaign to challenge the removal of the crosses.

Mr Kai was detained for six months before he was "forced" to appear on the State channel to "confess" his crimes against the Chinese Government by supporting the anti-establishment protest of the demolition of crucifixes.